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Clear Gospel Campaign
— by Ronald R. Shea, Th.M., J.D —
 
Topics Touching the Message of Salvation
— Grace —
Curriculum Outline and Study Guide | Resurrection | Assurance | Baptism | The Bema | Calvinism | The Gospel Message & Content of Saving Faith | The Creator | Dispensationalism | Eternal Security | Evangelism & Discipleship | Expiation, Propitiation and Redemption | Faith | Fruit . .. Don't you need it? | Grace | Hebrews 10 | Hebrews 6:1-15 | Heirship and Rewards | James 2:14-26 | Jesus is God | 1st John | John MacArthur | Justification | Bilateral Contract Salvation or "Lordship Salvation" | The Market Driven Church | Perseverance of the Saints | Predestination and Free Will | Public Confession of Christ | Regeneration | Repentance | Roman Catholicism | Salvation | Sanctification | The Sheep and Goats Judgment | Silly Gospel Substitutes | "Sovereign" (Irresistible) Grace | Stewardship of the Gospel Message | The Modern "Testimony" | The Ten Commandments: Their Relationship to the Believer | Theology and Doctrine | Total Depravity and `The Bondage of the Will` | Worship Music | Appendix I: Church History from a Free Grace perspective
Chapter 1: The Gift, and the Giver
Chapter 2: The Receipt of the Gift by Faith
Chapter 3: The Relationship of Honor and Grace
Chapter 4: Honor The Son By Honoring His Grace
Chapter 5: Common Approaches to Salvation by Works
Chapter 6: Common Approaches to Salvation by Works
Chapter 7: The Purpose of the Law.
Chapter 8: The Enemies of Grace
Chapter 9: Grace - The Eve of the Battle
Chapter 10: Grace--The Battle Begins
Chapter 11: Grace - The Debate Goes Public
Chapter 12: The Jerusalem Counsel
Chapter 13: Guerrilla Tactics in the War On Grace
Chapter 14: The Four Perversions of Grace-- 1 & 2

The Doctrine of Grace

by

Ronald R. Shea, Th.M., J.D.

 

THE JERUSALEM COUNSEL

 

 

 

 

THE GENESIS OF LORDSHIP SALVATION

 

 

The Judiazers had hit upon a compelling strategy.  They would force Paul to say that a man could be saved through faith in Christ even if he lived his entire life with his fist raised defiantly toward God.  The enemies of Paul were the original "Lordship Salvationists."  They were sincere in their beliefs, and the logic of their argument was as powerful and persuasive in Paul's day as it is in this day.  It would force Paul to say that God not only saves sinners, but saves sinners in the very act of rebellion against God.

 

And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved."

                                                                   Acts 15:1

 

Paul was in trouble.  He was right about the doctrine of grace, but being right means nothing if people don't believe you!  The circumcision argument by the enemies of grace was a powerful argument!  Its threefold appeal to Scripture and tradition, and the logic was compelling argument!  Paul would be "spinning his wheels" ("running in vain" was the expression used in Paul's day) unless he could secure the endorsements of some Christian leaders to lend authority to his teaching.  And so we read:

 

Therefore, when Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and dispute with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas and certain others of them should go up to Jerusalem, to the apostles and elders about this question.

                                                                   Acts 15:2

 

Then after fourteen years I [Paul] went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me.  And I went up by way of revelation, and communicated to them the gospel which I preached among the Gentile, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run in vain.

                                                           Galatians 2:1-2 

 

THE JERUSALEM COUNSEL

 

What followed was the famous Jerusalem Counsel.  A heated debate ensued before the church leaders in Jerusalem, before the very apostles who had walked with Christ and learned from Him.  The enemies of grace realized that if they lost the circumcision debate, if a man could live in rebellion to God and still be saved through faith in Christ, then the entire law of Moses was unnecessary for salvation!  They realized that the issue of circumcision and the entire law of Moses would stand or fall together:  They pressed their case to the church leaders:

 

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

                                                                   Acts 15:5

 

For Paul and other true believers, nothing less than the doctrine of grace was at stake!  After hearing the matter, Peter stood up and gave the decision of the council:

 

So the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter.  And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them:  "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.  So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as He did us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.  Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear.  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.

                                                               Acts 15:6-11

 

The council affirmed that Gentiles were saved by hearing "the word of the gospel and believ[ing]" that God "purifies their hearts by faith"; that it was not right to put the "yoke" of the law around the necks of the Gentiles; and that "through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved."  The council further affirmed that they had never endorsed those who went out and preached that circumcision or obedience to the law of Moses was necessary for salvation!

 

Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, "You must be circumcised and keep the law" - to whom we gave no such commandment.

                                                                 Acts 15:24

 

In short, the other apostles defended Paul's doctrine of grace.  A man is saved by faith in Christ apart from the works of the law!

 


Chapter 12: The Jerusalem Counsel

 
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